A famous
Antiquarian and collector of the 16th century.
Ashmole came into the possesion of (among many other things) John Dee's collection of books and manuscripts. He was an avid scholar of the Western Esoteric Tradition and had much interest in Hermeticism and Alchemy. In fact he published THE most famous alchemical book in the English language:
The Threatrum Chymicum Britannicum.
He also wrote the History of the Order of the Garter. Ashmole's collection later became the foundation for the Ashmolean Museum.